Holiday weekend sparks urgent call for blood donors
Canadian Blood Services is putting out an urgent call for donors as the leadup to the Thanksgiving long weekend is one of the most challenging times to collect donations.
In Calgary, there is a need for approximately 500 appointments between now and Thanksgiving Monday to keep up with hospital demand, said Susan Matsumoto, director of donor and clinic services for Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
Nationwide, about 14,000 appointments still need to be booked.
“Donors get busy with travelling or activities related to the long weekend with family and friends, and blood donation is not top of mind for them,” Matsumoto continued.
Historically, hospitals nationwide require about 12 per cent more blood in October than in September every year, she said, adding January and May are also months of high demand.
It can take 50 units of blood to save someone involved in a car crash, and up to five donors to help someone undergoing cancer treatment.
As well, certain blood products also have a limited shelf life, such as platelets, which can only last for five days and constantly need to be replenished. The organization is also looking for new donors, as a large portion of the current donor base is becoming ineligible with age, Matsumoto said. “Many are from the baby boomer generation and are becoming patients, recipients of blood products themselves,” she said. “They’re also becoming ineligible because of the drugs they’re taking, and travelling to malaria-type zones.”
She said 1,200 new donors are needed in Alberta per month to keep pace with demand.
Currently, the organization also faces the problem that only 60 per cent of donors honour their appointments.
There is a particular need for O negative and positive, and A negative blood types, Matsumoto said.
Plasma donors are eligible to donate weekly, while platelet donors are eligible to donate as often as every 14 days.
Blood donations can be made every 56 days.
Calgarians can donate blood at the permanent blood clinic at 737 13 Ave S.W. on weekdays, Saturday and the holiday Monday. People can also make donations at the mobile clinic at 5030 Northland Drive N.W. and at the Heritage Inn in Brooks.
Donors are asked to contact 1-888-2 DONATE for information on times and locations.
The Canadian Blood Services has also launched a Twitter campaign, called #14000thankyous, to encourage eligible donors to come forward and to thank donors who have “answered the call” for donations.